Improvement in hydrants



L. P.. CLARK.

Hydrant.

No. 209,460. Patented "Q t 29, 1878.

F'IQ-JI';

' INVENTOR WITN SS UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVIN P. CLARK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPR OVE MENT IN HYDRANTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,460, dated October29, 1878 application filed March 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVIN P. CLARK, of the city of Baltimore, and Stateof Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Hydrants, of whichthe following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that in thesame is contamed a full, clear, and exact description of my saidinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates, first, to means for packing the plunger withinthe waste-water chamber of the hydrant; and, secondly, to theconstruction of the said plunger and other portions of the mechanism, aswill hereinafter fully appear.

The object of the said invention is, first, to exclude from thewaste-water chamber sand, dust, and other matter that may accumulateupon and around the plunger when elevated;

=view of parts of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

A is the water-supply chamber, to which the service-pipe B is secured. Aplate, 0, forming a part of and extending exteriorly from the walls aofthe chamber A, constitutes the base of the entire apparatus within thebox or case D, to which the said plate is attached, atongue-and-groovejoint being formed between the same and the box or case, as shown. E isa cap, screwed over the upper end of the chamber A, the exposed innersurface of which is adapted as the seat for the valve 1). The said valveis held yieldingly in contact with its seat by means of a spiral spring,0, confined in a perforated shell, d,

. screwed into the lower part of the cap E.

The waste-water chamber F, secured exteriorly of the cap E, is of suchsize as to hold the Water remaining in the vertical dischargepipe Grafter the closing of the valve b, and

hereby remove the said water from the action of frost. To the lower endof the discharge- .pipe G is affixed in a suitable manner the pl ungerH, which, as the said discharge-pipe is depressed to open the valve,displaces the water contained in the waste-water chamber, and causes itto again enter the discharge-pipe G, to be carried off as the hydrant isused.

- The nozzle I, which conducts water from the pipe G to the outside ofthe hydrant-box, is formed in two parts, which are clamped around thesaid pipe G, and bolted together, as shown. The means of communicationbetween the interior of the pipe G and the nozzle I is an aperture, I,in the said pipe, and in order to close the pipe G above the saidaperture, a tongue, I, of metal is turned inwardly to form a partition,against which lead, solder, or other soft metal is poured. A piece ofgum packing is used to effect a tight joint between the nozzle and thepipe G. V

The mechanism for operating the pipe G, and through it the valve 1), isof the ordinary description, and forms no part of the present invention.

The plunger is packed within the waste- I water chamber by means of twocups, d, of india-rubber, the inner edges of which, in contact with thesurface of the plunger, extend in opposite directions. The cups d areheld to the waste-Water chamber by means of aflange, e, and in order toretain them in their desired shape when the plu'nger is removed a ring,f, of triangular cross-section is applied between them, as shown in thedrawing. This means of securing the rings in place admits of their beingcut from a straight sheet of india-rubber, and they are found to answerthe purpose for which they are intended fully as well as if molded inthe form of cups, and are much less expensive. The advantage of havingtwo cups in reversed positions, as shown, is that the edge of the uppercup prevents any dust, sand, or other matter adhering to the surface ofthe plunger from passing to the waste-water chamber, while the lower cupprevents the passage of water to the upper one, which would tend toextend it and cause leakage as the plunger is depressed.

When the plunger is removed from the waste-water'chamber, the free orinner edges of the cups naturally close slightly. I thereand permanent.

fore taper the lower end of the said plunger, in order to admit of itsbeing easily entered to the upper cup. The valve 1) is provided with theordinary slotted hollow stem, to give free passage of water from the capE. In having the plate 0 constructed as a part of the supply-chamber, asbefore described, the number of connections to make in erecting thehydrant is lessened, and the cost of the hydrant reduced.

I do not claim supporting the supply-water chamber by a plate formed onthe exterior thereof, and clamped by means of bolts between two parts'of a box or casing, but in my invention form a groove in the inner sidesof the box or easing, into which the plate, which is provided with atongued edge, is slipped. The casing which I use 'for this purpose isgenerally constructed of wood, and the connection made between it andthe plate is firm The plate 0 entirely closes the base of the box, andkeeps dirt from rising within the same, the hydrant mechanism within thecasin g being at all times clean andclear from extraneous substances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters IPatent of the United States, is

pipe G, having the perforation I, substantially as set forth.

4. The pipe G, having a portion thereof turned inward, forming thetongue 1, combined with a vbody of lead, solder, or other metal insertedin said pipe and resting on the tongue 1, whereby the pipe is closed, asand for the purpose specified.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day ofJanuary, in the year of our Lord 1878.

LEVIN r. CLARK.

Witnesses WM. S. HOWARD, NOAH CLARK.

